The Eyelians ("Ey'ylians", also called
"Tamers") represent ahuman
tribe of southern Sarvonia, whose
oldest ancestors lived in a land to the west of
Sarvoniawhere
they were persecuted because of their belief that the Gods
used Great Spirits found in common nature to speak to the people. They fled the
land with very little resources and finally settled at the fertile regions
around the Wind Bay, the mouth of the
Thaehelvil River and the
current New-Santhala.
Through the course of time the Eyelian Kingdom has formed here.

Image description. A
tamed gryph bearing the sign of the Order of the Wings with a female Eyelian
fighter. Picture by Eshóh K'ryvvlen.

Appearance.
Eyelians are a very natural-looking people. When one glances upon a
human of Eyelian descent it seems as
though Nature herself formed them out of her very essence. They are a
sun-kissed people, having light mocha
to dark brown skin. Their hair, curly and thick is usually always a hue of dark
brown, but some even have completely black hair. Their deep, alluring eyes are
of the darkest black, yet fear not for the Eyelian eye is ever vigilant and
brings wisdom not fear.

Eyelian hair is worn the same among the sexes. Men and women usually allow
their hair to grow out, both sexes are usually able to tie their dark locks
into a single ponytail and let it hang down their backs. The Eyelians can
usually be seen with various ornaments and trinkets on their bodies. They may
not flaunt the most expensive of jewels and gems, but any piece of jewelry they
wear usually has a great meaning behind it. Little girls and boys have their
earrings pierced, women usually wear various bracelets and necklaces, and men
may wear wrist braces and necklaces. A traveling Eyelian is often taken as a
Rover because of their
bright ornaments, although unlike the
Butterfly Rovers,
Eyelians do not wear more jewelry than needed. They do not purchase or wear
items just because it would look nice. Each item they adorn is because it will
or does mean something to them.

Being one of the smallest human tribes,
the Eyelians are only about 1.5
peds, thought not quite
as small as dwarves. They tend to enjoy
their height; it doesn't bother them at all. In fact, it is their height that
helps them to get along well with most animals, the small races, and
dwarves. They do not feel that the
Eyelians are as threatening as taller human
tribes, so they are quicker to consider them friends. Eyelians are slim for
their size, most of them never becoming plump and round in their entire
lifetime. But despite their slender form, the Eyelians are very strong. These
dark-skinned men have been known to knock their foes back further than most
orcs can brag. But, once again, do not let
their strength alarm you. The Eyelians are a very gentle people.

Another great aspect of the Eyelians is that they are quite intelligent. They
are intelligent in a way that would cause them to survive for a very long time
abandoned in the wilderness. Their intelligence seems instinctual in a way,
they do not learn how to be smart - they just are.

Eyelian also have the uncanny ability to communicate with wild animals without magic
and to tame them much easier than any other
Santharian tribe. This is partly a
talent they are born with, but it takes a great effort and an endless patience
to achieve this as well. A reduced bodily odour helps with approaching the
animals, something lacking in the other human
and elven tribes.

The Eyelians learn, from childhood, the "language" of many animals, that means
to understand their movements, their sounds and their behaviour in a way, which
they can imitate to such a perfect degree that the wild animals respond to it,
be it to sounds or movements. Most often, this is used to call a beast or to
send it away (sounds seeking for defence etc. are emitted for example).

A few Eyelians have even managed to get accepted in a pack of
wolves, or others have tamed wild
deer with the use of hides to cover
themselves. Frequently, the animals which are represented by one's spirit guide
are the best understood.

Though the Eyelians have their own language due to their derivation and cannot
be understood by people who know only Tharian, they can to a certain degree
communicate in the "beast-language". This prevents any non-Eyelian from
deciphering a message. This "beast-language" is based on sounds, partly
movements, from the animal world. Yet, it is extended a bit, so that more
precise information (f.e. about numbers and distances), can be transmitted. It
is mostly used for communication about smaller distances.

Coat of Arms/Sign. The Eyelians always have been known as the beastmasters of
Sarvonia, which is
also the reason why they are often referred to as "Tamers". This special art of
taming beasts has been practised by the tribe since
thousands of years and also was
interpreted as an indicator of power. As a consequence the Eyelian kings always were
famous beastmasters too, especially the legendary "Gryphonrider" Taranthir II., whose
extraordinary ability of taming the (now extinct and
legendary) wild gryphons inhabitating the Rimmerins Ring within a few
hours was appreciated and sometimes even feared throughout the lands. Therefore the king's
most beloved gryphon Zarathim is shown at the Eyelian coat of arms, which - according to the
reports of several sources - indeed was a dangerous monster and only obeyed to the strict
commands of its master.

Territory.It is an ancient and possibly incorrect myth that the Eyelians
arrived on Sarvonian lands hailing from
the continent of Nybelmar. They found
the Thaehelvil River and
followed it north until they come to a fork. There, on a grassy hillside they
began to build their new homes. This eventually became the Eyelian Kingdom,
which once spread south to the foothills of the Rimmerins Ring and headed west
until it reached the southern shores of Wind Bay. To the east, the border began
at the northeast foothills of Argor, stretched south and encircled what we now
know as the mountain ranges of the Rimmerins Ring which the Bears called them
"Bear's Teeth". The border continued south until it reached the northeastern
plain of what is now called Elverground,
they once stretched west along the border of the
Zeiphyrian Forests. The
border continued a little south until it reached the mouth of the
Thaehelvil River, then went
west until it reached the shores or the Aetryam Sea, then continued north until
it reached the southern shores of Wind Bay.

Now, the Eyelians have a much smaller range. Various other tribes who appear to
be more sophisticated than the exotic Eyelians now mostly populate
New-Santhala, where their former kingdom was situated. The Eyelians have
managed to hold onto their capital city Vezash and a few smaller territories,
such as Brinsley, and the southwestern region of Sanguia until Chylikis.
However, Eyelians can be seen throughout most of southern
Santharia, as they have no strict
boundaries.

People.
The Eyelians of today have lost a bit of their heritage. They are still seen as
primitive by most tribes, but in an attempt to regain their nobility many of
their current leaders are trying to reformat the
traditional Eyelian beliefs. The tribe has begun to
mingle more with other tribes, and their connection with nature has taken a bit
of a backseat to political and economic concerns.

Regardless, Eyelians remain a very soulful, traditional people. Their lore is
filled with mystic beliefs and their daily lives reflect the people's deep
faith in the spirits of nature. These short
humans are always prepared to share their history and beliefs with
travelers. Their cities are always opened for visitors with good intentions.
The Eyelians do not believe in turning anyone away, so long as that person is
willing to abide by their laws and respect their customs.

At first glance, Eyelians may seem primitive, but after taking a closer look
you will notice that they not only have a high
intelligence but also keen perception of their surroundings - be it nature or
their fellow contemporaries. Their greater breadth of understanding how things
work on a general scale surpasses most other tribes.

Eyelians are quite intelligent as well. Their
intelligence could easily be mistaken for a high level of common sense. This
natural common sense would permit them to survive for a very long time
abandoned in the wilderness. Their intelligence seems instinctual in a way,
they do not learn how to be smart - they just are.

Map of the ancient kingdoms of Santharia (482 b.S.). Click
on any kingdom to read more details at other kingdom entries.
Picture drawn by
Artimidor.

Eyelians respect their laws
and their elders. There is no truly 'set' hierarchy in Eyelian society; all men
are equal. Some are just placed to look after the welfare of others. But all
Eyelians understand the concept of respect. If you treat them with respect they
will hold you in reverence. If you treat them harshly, their warm hospitality
may begin to fade, but they will respect your decision nonetheless.

They are usually a very forgiving people, forgiving the offenses of outsiders
easier than they do the assaults of their brethren. They take the outsider's
crime lightly because they know that the outsider might be naive toward the
Eyelian culture. They may not be aware of the delicate balance of things in
Eyelian society. But to Eyelians, committing a crime against your brethren is
considered a high treason. All Eyelians were raised and disciplined to obey the
laws and respect customs. Crimes within a clan could lead to the guilty being
exiled and shunned.

The Eyelians are a people that revere nature and all of its facets. They
respect all life and believe that everything deserves the right to live. It is
not truly their decision to decide who lives and who dies. Everyone should live
as long as they do not disturb the balance of nature. Because of their great
respect, the Eyelians are very spiritually and mystically linked with nature.

As a result of this bond, Eyelians have the amazing ability to make themselves
accepted by the animals by acting and to communicate with them in a way that to
others seems magical. By studying the
animal, Eyelians are able to learn their 'language', speaking to the animal in
the tongue of the beast. Hence, they have a tremendously efficiency in taming
such beasts. Eyelians are not limited to any certain type of animal, as long as
it has some way of communicating with another of its species. An Eyelian cannot
‘command’ an animal to do something through speech, but they can probably
achieve their goal by engaging with a beast, being accepted by it, and later
making a "request" when needed.

Eyelian society is divided into three different clans. These clans are closely
knit, and come together in times of crisis, although there does seem to be a
small amount of political competition when it comes to choosing Eyelian
leaders. There are various differences between each of the clans. There is no
exact way to classify these people as a whole; each clan has a different view
on life and on how to run their lives. The Eyelian clans are as follows:

The Wolf Clan
Members of the Wolf Clan tend to be superior concerning all things that have to
do with leading or guiding people; therefore many of the most successful
leaders have come from this clan. They are usually highly loyal and very keen,
their vigilant minds watching for anything that could upset the balance in
their society. If a tribe or nation nearby wishes to
recruit the help of the Eyelians, it would be best to start with the Wolf clan.
They do not give their trust easily, but once it is gained rest assured that it
will remain unless they have been done wrong.

The
Eagle Clan
The members of the Eagle Clan are known for their grace, sharp wit, and
intellect. Many great strategists have come from the
Eagle Clan. Their grace is amazing, they seem to move, think and speak with a
great deal of self-assurance. They are also known for being very independent
and usually work best when alone.

The
Bear Clan
Bear Clan members are creative; they are the inventors of Eyelian society. Many
visitors have also called them the friendliest Eyelians. It seems that they are
truly the most hospital, as they welcome any kind visitor into their lands with
warm smiles and warm kettles.

Culture.
The Eyelian culture is widely regarded as a culture that has retained much of
its unique identity, even while bending and adapting to new lands. And even
though it was thousands of years ago when the Eyelians made their pilgrimage
from parts unknown, they are still regarded as "foreigners" and face many
cultural barriers, even in this age of unification. But the ways the Eyelians
have integrated and blended with the rest of the
Kingdom of Santharia are numerous. No
longer do the majority of Eyelian cities communicate with the Ha’hap drum. They
now communicate the same as any Proudman or
Averonnian, be that by courier or
wynd racer. From humble hunter
beginnings, the Eyelians have developed into a sophisticated, cosmopolitan
people with a strong link to their roots and the natural world.

The Eyelians are noted for this amazing understanding of nature, exemplified by
the "familiars" (tamed animals) they share a bond with, which they call
"Bo’en". Families look upon their bo’ens not as pets, but as members of the
family - albeit with wings, fur or claws. Bo'ens can generally look after
themselves, and some (the larger predators) will leave the city limits to find
food. Also the larger animals rarely stay with the Eyelians. In cities with
high concentrations of Eyelians, any Tamer can rent out a stable space for
relatively cheap. These specially designed stables will often be strongly
reinforced, so the beasts will not mingle or escape.

These Bo'ens are extremely important to the Tamers - evidenced by the
observation that some Eyelians even possess a remarkable resemblance to their
natural brethren. Hence, the alertness and tufty hair common to those with
birds and the unnatural strength to the Tamers who have tamed a larger animal,
like a bear. This could, of course, only be a mix of coincidence and
exaggeration, but to the Eyelians, it is a commonly accepted "Old Wives’ Tale".

Family Structures. Eyelian hierarchy seems based
on nature, with the Patriarch and the Matriarch commanding equal respect, much
as their counter-parts in a wolf pack
would. - They share the Patriarch/Matriarch dynamic with
wolves, and resemble herd animals like
horses, in the way that their society
shows little discrimination, and much equality. The mother and father, for
instance, are held as equals, a twist rarely seen in modern
Sarvonia. For instance, the
Shendar are inclined to be matriarchal, while the
Erpheronians are a male-dominated society.

Another difference between Sarvonian
and Eyelian society is that Eyelian society has a great deal more equality -
there are no serfs and vassals, all men and women are equal. This is most
likely an extension of family life. As in Eyelian communities, everyone in an
Eyelian "nest" watches out for one another. Everyone, from the smallest cub
(Eyelian vernacular for child) to the oldest owl (a common epitaph for the wise
elders) finds a safe place to lay their heads at home, surrounded by a
multitude of loving guardians, from bo’ens to uncles.

Eyelian families tend to be composed of the aforementioned parents,
approximately two to four children, as well as the man's family. In the woman's
family, if there are no men in their prime left to support the family, the
eldest remain in charge, and represent the center of the family.

One may wonder why the new couple suddenly "takes charge" of the family. One
wonders this, because one is not an Eyelian. To the Eyelian, this all makes
perfect sense. It is the responsibility of the young in their prime to get
married, and carry on their family's line. It is then the role of the couple to
also take charge of the family's finances and well-being. At that point, it is
the elders' job to step aside as the Patriarch and Matriarch, and fill in a new
family role. Of course, no Eyelian would seek marriage without parental
consent, so dissent from these three rules is nigh unheard of.

It is the role of these parents to support the very large Eyelian families. In
older, traditional settlements, the parents are the hunters and gatherers,
while in modern Eyelian homes, the parents are the primary workers, with
live-in uncles and grandparents providing only a supplemental income. However,
everyone in an Eyelian family is expected to help in some way. And with a
family as big as an Eyelian’s, tasks tend to get done!

The uncles and aunts often bring in supplementary income, and are expected to
help guard the homestead in traditional communities. This additional income is
often found in the form of sustenance farming, small-game hunting, or perhaps
free-lance work in certain crafts.
Amantry is also a popular
choice. Not all of the work the relatives do is meant to bring in income -
uncles often act as “Wa’ahdens”, or sentinels. The task of a sentinel is one of
extreme importance to traditional Eyelian communities. These communities tend
to be in isolated, rural, areas, without a battalion of soldiers within calling
distance. Attacks can come from any direction. The coast brings pirates, the
roads brigands, and the woods bring hungry
wolves and giant rats.

Another important task done by the uncles and aunts which brings in no
immediate income is teaching the children. As the parents are often away at
work, or busy rearing the children in other ways, the task of teaching the
young specific crafts often falls to the aunts and uncles. This teaching is
often done as the aunts and uncles work. If there are no uncles or aunts in the
family, then this job falls to the Elders.

Any Eyelian quickly becomes a “ju’ek’atra’ad”, an Eyelian epitaph for one who
holds a basic smattering of many skills, yet has mastered none. These children
will of course learn their parents’ crafts, as will a child in any culture. But
in an Eyelian family, there are many crafts to be learned. For instance, many
young girls pick up amantry
from their aunts, and boys learn the tasks of a sentinel from their uncles. As
far as actual chores go, however, the children tend to be given simpler jobs,
like cleaning, and chasing birds from the fields.

While the elder’s also aid in the teaching of children, they do so on a much
larger scale. The old act as “sharers of wisdom for the whole family”,
imparting valuable advice, and solving conflicts between families, and within
them. In an Eyelian community, the elders are highly valued, both as teachers
and mediators.

Please note that this family dynamic is not set in stone. For instance, the
elders live with the male child who has married first. This means that his
brothers will not have an elder living in their family. Also, due to the fact
that the daughter's family does not move with her, there are families where the
financial responsibility sits on the the unmarried brothers, and very rarely,
the unmarried sisters. However, there is tremendous pressure in Eyelian society
to marry young, so the only discrepancy commonly seen is the lack of an
in-house elder. However, this is not a tremendous disadvantage, as closely
related families will often live in close proximity, forming an almost
clan-like bond.

Keep in mind, traditional and cosmopolitan families are drastically different.
Traditional families tend to be part of a much greater whole, with the "entire
pack raising the cub" as it were, while modern families are more often
separated from other Eyelians. However, in cities with large Eyelian
populations, the families often band together in ethnic neighbourhoods. These
"Tomo’odons", or "whole worlds", are very close-knit, and often feature
beautiful landscaping. They also feature unique "stables", also called
"Tomo'ay'els". These stables are homes for the neighbourhood's larger bo’ens.
For instance, in an average Tomo'ay'el, one may find
gryphs,
wolves, or even
tagers. In non-Eyelian cities, these
areas are harshly guarded, mainly from the villagers' fears. The proximity to
these dangerous creatures can indeed be a cause for fright. However, these
Tomo'ay'els are becoming less common. The urbane Eyelian has adopted more
socially acceptable bo’ens for the purpose of gaining trust, but mostly for
convince. These bo’ens often include completely mundane animals, like dogs and
cats.

Eyelian families tend to follow a similar schedule. Meals tend to be very
important group affairs. Over a dinner of roasted
taenish and
kellian, the elders share stories,
often in the language of the beasts. These stories are not "stories" as we know
them - due to the primitive nature of the beast-tongue, they are more a series
of concepts presented in a logical order. For instance, the tale of a great
hunt would begin with the concept of hunger, moving to the concept of desire,
the concept of excitement, and the concept of achievement. While a large
Eyelian family growling, clucking, snarling, and laughing may seem strange, it
perhaps grows stranger as a wolf pads
near, a pair of stormcrows settles
in the rafters, and four tiny lizards
scamper to their child masters. But this is an average Eyelian meal, and it
happens three times a day.

Possessions. Quantity of material possessions is
not of great importance to Eyelians, but every item an Eyelian owns holds
special importance to him or her. These items tend to be things like jewelry,
weapons, and trinkets. Jewelry is
perhaps the most common possession. Many Eyelians own many rings, necklaces,
and bracelets, each celebrating different occasions. These items are commonly
given as gifts on birthdays, and as tokens between young lovers.
Weapons are also popular gifts, and are
handed down from father to son. One spear
haft may be as many as four generations old, the spearhead replaced whenever
needed. Often, the arrow used for a hunter's first kill is saved, and placed in
a spot of honour in the Eyelian home. All other tools and valuables, like plows
and lumber axes are owned by the
community. Generosity is a chief virtue for Eyelians, or as they say it "One
wolf’s kill is the whole pack’s meal".

Freedom. Freedom is an integral part of Eyelian
society, especially to the Bear clan. While some cultures prefer rigidity and
daily schedules, Eyelians prefer to simply know when they must work, and spend
the rest of the time in spontaneous leisure activities. The Bear clan, as the
most creative of the three places great importance on this leisure time, and
has used it to compose some of the greatest pieces of artwork seen in Southern
Sarvonia. All Eyelians are free to pick
their own trade, and the concept of a "family-owned business" is a completely
foreign one.

Eyelians enjoy a great deal of leisure time, as chores are widely split up.
This time is often spent learning songs and drum tattoos (pre-composed beats or
rhythms), or seeking an animal to call friend and bo’en.

Consequences/Advantages. Eyelian culture is well
preserved, through their strong oral tradition, and ancient family ties. This
is what has saved Eyelians from losing their beliefs and traditions as they
have become increasingly cosmopolitan, to the point of assimilation in some
areas.

The strong family ethic is one that allows every Eyelian to sleep soundly, as
uncles and aunts stand guard, and a veritable army of animals lies in wait for
predators. The gratitude owed to these animals is so great that the beast has
been placed on a pedestal in Eyelian culture, creating a healthy respect for
Caelereth and all its inhabitants.

A combination of many factors, such as plentiful hunting, large families to
help spread the work around, and no great desire for materialistic wealth, has
allowed Eyelians to produce some of the greatest artists, philosophers, and
musicians in all Sarvonia. It seems
these factors are ones that could and should be emulated by other cultures, not
only for the sake of saving tradition, but for the sake of the natural world.
[1]

Housing.
Depending on what clan you visit you will see different structures. The Wolf
Clan likes stone structures therefore you will see homes and fortresses built
of stone. The Bear Clan uses the earth
more than other materials, so the Bears' homes and fortresses are made of
hardened mud and earth.
The Eagle Clan prefers the comfort of wood so their homes and fortresses are
made of wood.

An important location is the so-called "Lodge
of Purification": Depending on what clan, it is
basically an enclosed area with a large
fire pit filled with rocks in the center. Participants are required to
remove all clothing and sit in a circle. The elder of the clan then passes a
brown sticky substance to each participant while saying a chant. The
participant then takes the substance and eats it. This substance, called
"Etoyep", is supposed to help the participant see the Great Spirits or visions
of the future. Water is poured upon
these heated rocks and the steam is meant to sweat out all impurities from of
the participants so that they are clean, both physically and spiritually. The
Temple of Colthoi seems to have been the Lodge of Purification for the Bear
Clan. Though that has not been proven the ruins and artifacts found in the area
point in that direction.

Of course in today's United Kingdom of
Santharia Eyelians have mingled with other tribes to a great degree, so
that the original lodgings of the Eyelians cannot be found anymore to a
predominating extent in the countryside of the Sanguian province. Many Eyelians
live already in villages and towns like other
Santharians do and have also
accustomed to habits of other tribes, their typical Eyelian orientations and
alignments being reduced to a minimum. Nevertheless there are still various
places around the Rimmerins Ring, where you can find whole swathes of land
tucked into the mountainside where Eyelians have preserved their traditions in
the most original form. Here you will encounter all the Eyelian traditions of
the different clans, which you can also discern easily by judging the way their
homes are built.

Clothing.
The Eyelians once wore very little clothing. In ancient times they could be
seen walking around naked without worry of who was seeing them. Now, as times
have changed, they tend to wear a great deal more clothing, however there are
still traces of their natural inclination to walk around in nothing at all.

The common item of clothing is a sleeveless shirt for both sexes, as well as
short skirts for both, or loose pants for the men. One thing all items of
clothing have in common is that they are made out of very light, flowing
material. Most Eyelians do not enjoy the feeling of tight, binding clothing.
The material does not restrict their movement and gives them a sense of
freedom. They tend to wear soft sandals made of deer hide and tree bark, and
some even wrap scarves around their heads.

Men's
Clothing
Clothing for men in Eyelian society does not differ much. There is a variation
of colour, although Eyelians prefer
earthly tones, such as
sognastheen or herne,
elken or
cinnabrown, and
charcoal or
ithild. Those males who
lead a clan and their family, wear uderza as a sign of the blessing that the
Father Sky (Grothar) has bestowed
upon them. Men tend to wear sleeveless shirts, that reveal much of their
well-developed arm muscles, and that have a low-hanging collar. Some even wear
vests that remain unclosed during the heat of the day. As for leg covering,
Eyelian men prefer to wear loose shorts, or even pants.

Women's Clothing
Female Eyelians are usually seen in sleeveless shirts, just like the men. They
prefer short skirts that barely reach their knees to the modern long skirts and
dresses. Eyelian women have been taught to embrace their physical forms, and
the older women have no problem with showing their hanging down breasts - for
they are a sign for having breast fed children, which is a feat to take pride
in.

Women look more exotic than men do, and they tend to wear a lot more jewelry.
Both sexes are fond of metals and gems, but women are very fond of gold,
especially gold bracelets, necklaces, and rings. Most Eyelian women are usually
decorated with various trinkets that they have managed to purchase.

Also worth mentioning are
the Tribal Markings: The descendents of each of the three clans usually have
various markings that set them apart from one another: The Wolf clan often gets
the mouth of a wolf exposing its fangs on their arms or chest, the Eagle clan
has an eagle’s talons stretched out in the same area, and the Bear clan usually
has the claws of a bear imprinted on their bodies with dark,
nor'sidian ink. Diet.
Eyelians eat just about anything. Even though they worship the spirit of the
wolf, eagle and bear they realize these animals eat meat and so do they,
including those animals they worship. They understand that the animals were
placed in the world for a reason, and that was to provide sustenance for the
people. However, they do so for sustenance only and not for sport. Eyelians
will oppose anyone they think is harming nature or the animals if they believe
it is being done out of pure sport or maliciousness.

Besides meat, they are also an agricultural people. Eyelians tend to have vast
farms in the flatlands of their territory. Here they grow wheat, a bit of
carroots,
peasecods, and even
doch nuts. Eyelians have garnered
quite the taste for doch nuts,
and many young children can be seen carrying shirts full of the tasty little
nuts.

Weapons.
The Eyelians mainly use simple weapons
such as staff, bow and spear. Their main
weapons are the animals themselves
though they can call to their aid, which can be most any kind of wild
animal around. It is often feared, that if a major battle was to occur, the
Eyelians could well have formidable weaponsin their animals friends.

In addition to the above, Eyelians cannot simply call forth any animal out of
the forest to fight for them. While they must be able to speak the language of
the beast, they must also be able to understand the nature of the animal. A bit
of magic intermingled with common sense, no
inexperienced Eyelian would simply be able to call a pack of ravenous
wolves to fight for them. Although with
time, even the most inexperienced beast tamer could learn to develop the
necessary bond and power to do so.

Occupations.
The dominant and most prominent occupations in Eyelian society are those of
religious leaders, and those with beast-training positions.

The
Religious Leaders
Being very spiritual, the Eyelians believe that without proper religious
guidance you cannot obtain proper communication with the spirits. Those who
work to become Eyelian priests and invoke the Great Spirits, often live easier
than the rest. They are very highly respected and tend to be treated with
reverence wherever they set foot. The Eyelians believe that the spirits of
nature are the messengers of Father Sky (Grothar),
and Mother Earth (Jeyriall). They
believe that these two gods use the Great Spirits to communicate to them.

They also feel that Grothar and
Jeyriallrespect
those who serve them; therefore they should do the same. A religious leader is
not chosen directly by the Eyelian people. The Elders commune with the spirits
through chanted prayers in order to get them to contact the Two Gods to help
them make the decision. Meanwhile, children who have come of age spend the
entire week in the wilderness seeking the spirits. In the wilderness they
experience dreams, vivid dreams that they believe are from
Grothar and
Jeyriall.
In the dreams they also receive their bonded animal,
and they are also told that they could potentially lead the Eyelian tribes.
Those with reoccuring dreams are more likely to ascend to leadership. When the
adolescent returns, the Elders listen to the dreams of the children, and those
with remarkable, truthful dreams will be informed that he or she has been
chosen to become a religious leader.

Once the future leader has been chosen they will undergo trials that test his
endurance, and how he will stand in the face of hardship. It is no easy job to
become a religious leader, and many often become spiritually and emotionally
unstable by all of the things that they must witness. No one, not even those
who have resigned from their positions, are allowed to speak on what these
things are. But many Eyelians will quickly inform you that the trials are not
pleasant.

The Elders
Those that have already been deemed as spiritual leaders believe that only the
wise and the disciplined can make for good spiritual leaders. After undergoing
the period of trials and tests, the Eyelian will emerge either sane or
unstable. If they emerge stable, they will be given the title of an Elder and
will be sought after for the rest of their lives by those seeking counsel with
Father Sky and
Mother Earth through the Great
Spirits. These Elders will conduct the religious services, and will mentor
those who seek to become a spiritual guide to the Eyelian people.

The Clan Leaders
Being a clan leader is not really an occupation; it is more a duty. And it is a
duty that not many get the chance to endure. If you believe you are fit to be
leader of one of the three clans, you must go into the Lodge of Purification
(see Housing) at
the time of the full moon. If one of the Great Spirits do not 'physically
touch' you, you along with your family may feel the need to leave the clan out
of shame for having been too proud or arrogant to claim the title when not
being fit for it.

It is believed that those who were not chosen were too arrogant and unworthy of
living amongst the others. There are three clan leaders for each of the three
clans, they each come together and make decisions that will affect the entire
Eyelian community, but they are in charge of their own smaller communities. The
Clan leaders often seek out the advice of the Elders, for they are the closest
to the spirits. It is a known fact that you have a better chance of becoming a
clan leader if you are or have been an Elder. The Clan leader serves his or her
clan until the time of his death, and then another is chosen to replace him or
her.

The Beast Masters
The Eyelians are usually a rather peaceful community, but when disturbed they
can become a force to be reckoned with. Eyelians do not have a standing army;
most of their warriors are used as beast masters in times of peace such as now.
Their uncanny ability to communicate with any animal allows them to use the
beast for battle.

The Eyelians believe that a well-rounded fighter is best, so the Elders and
Clan leaders look for charisma along with physical prowess. Therefore most of
the ancient Eyelian Generals were very diplomatic and physically strong. Being
a tribal warrior, or Beast Master,
is a very honourable thing, and warriors are highly
respected. Men and women are allowed to join the ranks as long as they have
already received their spiritual guide from the messengers of
Grothar and/or
Jeyriall.

The
Land Keepers
Another word for a 'farmer', Eyelians do not have the most fertile soil, but
they manage to do quite well with the land they can use. It is their duty to
ensure that the Eyelians have a stable diet. The
Eyelians split their land keepers into two groups, hunters and farmers. Farmers
till the land to grow crops, and hunters scour the land for game. It is a
respectable job and is very vital to the survival of the Eyelian people.
Without food one cannot survive for very long.

Another branch of farming, the Eyelians have salt collectors that live on the
ocean shore and transport salt to the merchants in Vezash.

The
Merchants
Eyelian merchants are very smooth talkers, they do not always have the best
items to sell to you, but they know how to promote their products. Being a
merchant is not all too respectable, unlike many other tribes, the Eyelians do
not thrive upon their commerce with other civilizations. Instead they prefer to
trade amongst one another. There are very few Eyelian merchants in their
society; the majority of them remain within Eyelian territory. If you were to
go to Marcoggor
Caelum for example you will have a difficult time spotting an Eyelian
merchant selling their goods.

The rest of the Eyelian population has a variety of occupations. They range
from miners to seamstresses, from healers to mages. They even have several
well-known scholars, and some of
Santharia's greatest philosophers have been Eyelian men and women. It is
their great sensibility that allows them to be so diverse.

Education and Gender-Related Occupations. Eyelian
children are taught differently depending on where they live. In traditional
communities, the teaching is lorded over by a select group of elders, imparting
the wisdom of the natural world, coupled with the task of learning a trade.
Eyelian children often pick their craft early in life (around age 12 or so),
and devote their lives to it. Eyelings (Eyelian children, sometimes
affectionately known as "cubs" or "jsals") who have a fondness for the
earth learn which crops grow best in
which season, and what plants are too finicky for the native soil. These cubs
are often taken to the fields, and participate in the harvest as much as
possible. They will spread seed, till the
earth, and scare away the crows.
The latter job is a favourite among young cubs, who often favour a roar or howl
to frighten birds away. Eyelians who live near the coast can have very
different jobs as farmers. These land-keepers will often harvest not grain and
vegetable, but salt from the ocean itself. This is a popular choice for cubs in
certain communities, as it grants the young ones a chance to sneak away and
play in the ocean’s surf and waves.

Cubs who show a talent for leadership are encouraged to lead the “gangs” young
Eyelians form. The word gang does not carry the negative connotation it does in
many other cultures. In the Eyelian tounge, “tomo’ajsal” is the word for gang,
and actually means something approximate to “world of the young”. The members
of individual tomo’ajsals frequently engage each other in play combat, shows of
strength and enurance, and frequent footraces.

Some Eyelings even strive to be counted among the beast-masters, and those who
show a prodigious talent for the beast-tongue are taken in by the Beast Master
of the tribe. The beast-masters will teach the young Eyelians the nuances of
the beast-tongue, for instance, how body language can change the meaning of
individual grunts, and how certain chirps will have different meanings to
different birds. Becoming a Beast Master is a long journey, often requiring
frequent forays into the forest, but the rewards can be great.

By the age of sixteen, an Eyelian is prepared for his line of work, and may
even be thinking about finding himself a wife, and starting his own pack.
However, Eyelians rarely have children until at least age 18. The two years in
between are used for the parents of the future parents to teach the art of
child-raising to the new couple.

These traditions are similar in urban areas. However, there tend to be more
opportunities for these children. Every year, it seems, less city-cubs want to
leave town for the old ways, and more want to strike it rich as merchants.

Government.
Unlike most, the leadership of a clan is determined not by lineage but by whom
the Great Spirit of whatever clan they belong to determines. The White Wolf,
Great Bear or Golden Eagle determines who the leader of the clan will be. The
way that the members prove to be worthy of leadership is that after the
previous leader dies then those who think they should be his/her followers go
into the Lodge of Purification (see Housing) at the time of the full moon. They stay there
until the next full moon. The one that has been chosen by the spirit to lead
their clan is "touched physically".

From what the historians can determine from the fragments of records to be
"touched physically" means that the member who was chosen is struck with a
physical feature and an enhanced sense that they did not have when they entered
the Lodge, e.g. elf-like ears and a
heightened sense of hearing, and teeth resembling the fangs of a
wolf. for those of the Wolf Clan. Clawed
fingers or malformed feet, and enhanced strength for those of the Bear Clan.
Golden, narrow eyes and extremely keen, almost supernatural eyesight for those
of the Eagle Clan. These are just some examples. There may have been others but
the historians have only been able to decipher these so far.

This is an extremely mysterious event, and not many outside of the Eyelian
people have ever been close enough to provide an accurate account of an Eyelian
being 'touched physically'.

Production/Trade.
Eyelians are not very fond on trading with other kingdoms and tribes, but they
are well aware of how vital it is to their economy. Most of their trading
occurs within the capital, Vezash. The most modern city of
the ancient Eyelia except
New-Santhala, at times the
city can be crowded with merchants both native and foreign attempting to make a
profit.

The Eyelians have very stable trade relations with the
Quaelhoirhim elves,
trading various gems and jewels for
Quaelhoirhim glass and gold. Plus the
Quaelhoirhim
make beautiful swords and magnificently
made rugs that the Eyelians can't seem to resist. Due to their good relations
with the Quaelhoirhim,
the elves have helped the Eyelians to form
a stable, long distance trade relation with the
Aellenrhim elves in northern
Santharia.
The Eyelians trade salt from the ocean shores for various woven fabrics from
the Aellenrhim. And in recent times even
the Sanhorrhim have sailed from their
ports in the Cyan Sola Bay to trade small ships,
silver items and fish with the Eyelians. It is believed that these
elven tribes
enjoy trading with the Eyelians because of the hospitable and peaceful
dispositions they share.

Due to the fact that Eyelian women are fond of the spermaceti
produced by Avennorian fishermen, the two tribes
have begun to strengthen their trading ties. The Eyelians are also quite fond
and intrigued by the ivory tusks of whales that
Avennorian traders often bring with them.

Also due to their fondness of gold, the smooth-talking Eyelian merchants have
managed to form a wonderful trading relation with the
Boltgrumm dwarves in order to gain
access to the gold that is heavily laced throughout the Kairgrumerons in the
Kairian Teeth.

The Eyelians also have great trade relations with the Varcopasians in Varcopas.
The Eyelians travel to the port of Chylikis where they trade salts, fabrics,
and various other goods. Varcopas is where the Eyelians get access to most of
their goods from Milkengrad and
Thalambath.

The Quallian however holds the
Eyelians' most admired trade partner. The
Ylfferhim are highly liked by the Eyelians due to their extreme care to
co-exist with the forest. Here they often purchase clay, marble, and emerald
for decorative and constructive purposes. They are also allowed to select
several dozens of Eyelian farmers to pick fruits from the many trees that grow
within the Quallian.

Natural Resources.
The land that the Eyelians live on does not possess a plethora of resources for
them to use. The land is fertile; their moderate climate perfect for growing
grains.

Ancient Eyelians also had access to the Aetryam Sea, so their descendants
are able to catch some rather large fish. They also
have various gold mines that they have purchased from the
Quaelhoirhim, which can be found in the
western edges of the Zeiphyrian
Forest. Eyelians are also able to purchase large amounts of gold for a
lowered price from the Kairian Teeth due to their good relations with the
Boltgrumm dwarves. They have a small
variety of game, such as bears, rabbits, owls,
deer, eagles, and
wolves, plus other small mammals and
reptiles.

Eyelians are also able to gather various minerals in the Rimmerins Ring. This
large mountain range and trail of valleys has mineral resources the Eyelians
are able to take advantage of. Minerals that they mine in the Rimmerins Ring
include copper, herne, tin, and lead. They can also gather
burning stones, stones with
magical properties at the Argor volcano in
the northeast.Belief. The Eyelians
came from the west with their belief of Father Sky and Mother Earth, who have
created the "Great Spirits". While living in
Santharia they learned about the
twelve Santharian gods and in the
course of time, both beliefs mixed; they adopted - or were forced to do so -
the Santharian, without neglecting
their old one. As time passed on they both changed to form the current Eyelian
belief. Father Sky became Grothar;
Mother Earth became Jeyriall. The
two came to be known as “The Two Gods”, and are said to be joined in an
unbreakable marriage, in contrary to the belief of southern tribes by the way,
that Grothar is the lover of
Baveras, Goddess of the Sea.

The Clans all believe in what they call the Wat'a'kan or the "Great Spirits."
They believe that the Two Gods created several important spirits to watch over
the Eyelians and to send the prayers of the Eyelians to her. The main spirits
that they worship are known as the “Three Great Spirits”: The White Wolf, the
Great Bear and the Golden Eagle. The Eyelians believed that when they founded
their first settlement, these three spirits gave them knowledge from the Two
Gods, which they needed to live such as the use of
fire, tools, etc. The Great Spirits
come in many forms; there are spirits that reside in plants, although most have
chosen the animals. All of them are messengers of the Two Gods and it is
through the spirits that the Eyelians receive their wisdom and spiritual
renewal from the Two Gods.

A few Eyelians have turned away from this belief in Great Spirits, seeing it as
primitive. Modern men often look down upon the Eyelians because they think the
Eyelians believe that Grothar and
Jeyriall are unable to present a
message for themselves. The Eyelians are fully aware of the power of the god
and goddess and respect and worship them far more than they worship the
Spirits. However, they do believe that the Two Gods use the spirits in order to
send messages to them. The Great Spirits are their lips, and the Eyelians are
the listening ears. Eyelians do not believe that the Great Spirits reside on
the same plane as the Two Gods. They believe that the Great Spirits and the
entire spiritual realm is a level between the mortal men and the immortal Gods.

Holidays,
Festivals and Observances.
The Great Spirits are also the ones that lay out the basics of the plan the Two
Gods have for an Eyelian’s life. In order to receive that plan the Eyelians
must go through various spiritual times. - There are
three spiritual times in their lives:

The
Naming
The naming is when an Eyelian child has been brought into the world, and they
are given their names. The father goes alone into the "Lodge of Purification"
(see Housing) and does not eat
nor drink until one of the spirits come to him and tells him the name of his
child on behalf of the Two Gods. This process usually takes no longer than a
day, two at most.

The Seeking
of the SpiritThe second spiritual time is when the child at
the time of his/her age of manhood/womanhood is sent into the "Lodge of
Purification". They do not eat meat and can drink
only minute amounts of water or juice
for five days. Then they are sent out into the wilderness with only a knife.
They are to wander the wilderness praying for a sign of one of the Great
Spirits that will tell them what animal or bird will be their spiritual guide.
A spiritual guide is an animal that the Eyelian man or woman will have an
uncanny bond with for the rest of their entire life. It is not a real, living
individual, but more like a presence which is with the man and woman, to which
he can talk and might get advice in a way, that he knows after a short time,
which path is the right one.

The ability to communicate with animals within the boundaries of their
abilities is especially strong with the species the spirit guide is from. Any
animal of this kind will answer a call or spoken words more easily than every
other beast. Wherever an Eyelian is he or she can
rely more on the beast his/her spirit guide
represents than any other. This spirit guide will be a constant
reminder that the Two Gods and the Great Spirits watch over him or her.

Returning the Spirit
The third spiritual time is at death. When a clan member dies fighting for any
just cause a wooden stand about ten feet from off the ground is erected. The
body is placed on this stand and set afire
to return the warriors' body to the Father.

If a clan member dies naturally then the body is buried under the
earth to return back to Mother Earth.
In the ancient past if the member was a warrior that lived until he/she died
naturally this was interpreted as a bad omen and the body was placed sitting up
in the wilderness so that the spirits of the animals would partake of the body
and satisfy the anger of them. That is why if a member thought he/she was going
to die and had not done so in battle, they would go fight with the enemy to die
a honourable death. However, as time has changed this
custom has been abandoned, only revisited by the older Eyelians who still
believe in the old traditional system.

Nomenclature.
Eyelian is a unique tongue in Santharia,
derived from a mix of ancient Nymbelmarian
languages and the language of beasts. While this language has been mainly
"Tharianized", the alphabet itself remains different, containing no equivalent
of D or X. As such, names in Eyelian are often difficult for others to
pronounce, and tend to follow a completely different pattern of syllables than
that of the Sarvonian tribes. Ns-, Mr-,
and Slk- are all syllables completely unique to the Eyelian tongue, and are all
commonly used in names. Other grammatical and phonetic differences contribute to
the Eyelian Sarvonian linguistic divide.
Firstly, double vowels are a common feature, though they are always separated by
a break, written as an apostrophe. (a’a, i’i, e’e, a’em, and even a’e’i,
pronounced Ah-EE-ih). Double consonants - like the aforementioned Ns and Mr, as
well as the suffixes - are also common, though, conversely, they are never
separated by an apostrophe. This makes Eyelian names difficult for outsiders to
read or pronounce first try.

Eyelians are named in a three-part naming system:

First Names
The first name is one chosen by the parents at birth. Traditionally, the father
will enter a lodge of purification after an Eyeling is born to engage the Rite
of Naming. He will pray and induce trances in order to derive a proper name for
the child. In some societies and cities, however, this practice has been
forgotten. The name is still chosen according to Eyelian tradition, however, and
the composition of first names has remained largely the same since the ancient
days of the Eyelian kingdom. Note that the first name is always chosen from the
Eyelian tongue, and is almost always connected with nature. For instance,
"Nsikigan" is Eyelian for "Fang of the Serpent".

Second Names
The second name is one given to the child by his friends and family. It is
essentially a legal nickname, inspired by one's occupation or dominant
characteristics. For Eyelians who live in traditional communities, the nickname
is left in the traditional language, for roamers, it is translated to the tongue
of whatever race is the majority. For instance, "Nsikigan Rocksilk Yourth" could
also go by "Nsikigan Ho'Tonanese Yourth". In either case, the second name is
indicative of a smooth-talker, inspired from the phrase "Slick as the Rocksilk".
Nearly every Eyelian one comes across in the civilized world has had his middle
name translated.

Third Names
The third name is similar to the surname preferred by many
Sarvonian tribes, but has its
differences. In tradition, it is not a name distinctive to one patriarchal line,
but one shared by all Eyelians who live in a specific area. The "surname" will
either be Eyelia, for wolf tribe members,
Yourth, for Eagle tribe members, or Quia, for those of the bear tribe. Keep in
mind, however, that the three surnames previously described are Tharianized
versions of the original Eyelian tribe names - Ey'yel, Quy'ya, and Yo'urth. Even
the tribe name "Eyelian" is merely a corrupted version of the Eyelian own name
for themselves, the Eye'elans.

Note that most of the linguistic "reformation" has occurred in reference to
surnames. This is due to an ancient Tharian decree, mandating a more uniform
surname system, for ease of record-keeping and unification. As such, many
Eyelians have been forced to adopt a more cosmopolitan approach, and some have
adopted common surnames. These surnames are sometimes derivatives of the clan
name (as in King Thagor Eye’el, of the Eyelia clan), but are sometimes Eyelian
words for common trades, famous ancestors, animal totems of particular import to
the family, or even geographic location. Every Eyelian surname still at least
retains part of the original clan nomenclature. Common surnames end with -el for
the wolf clan, -qu for the bears, and -ouf for the Yourth clan. However, there
is no decree against using Yourth, Quia, or Eyelia as a surname, it is simply
more convenient in larger cities, and areas where surnames are a cultural
necessity. As Santharian influence has
crept into the smaller Eyelian towns, then, modern surnames (with the tribe
endings attatched) are increasingly common. Ironically, in big cities, with a
smaller Eyelian population, and less chance of having several Eyelians all from
one clan, the original three endings are still often used.

Note that "Tharianized" surnames are phonetically identical to first names. The
only difference is the prevalence of the tribal influenced endings.

Male Names. Below we provide you with a short list
of basic masculine syllables used in Eyelian Nomenclature:

History. The
first settlements of the Eyelians are said to have been founded a long time
ago, at approx. ten or eleven millenia before the ascension of
Santhros to the
Santharian throne:

"A ship weighs anchor off of the shores of the Wind Bay.
It lies low in the water as most
of it is flooded. Its main mast is cracked and its sails are torn and shredded
pieces flap in the breeze. A longboat is lowered into the water. Inside are the
remnants of a people who came from the nothwestern tip of the continent
ofNybelmar,
from the lands now known as Loreney.
They come from far west across the sea following the
star constellation known as the
"Bow" in
Santharia but what these
people call the White Wolf. For the constellation seen from their lands
looks like a wolf on its haunches baying at the moon.

The people were a persecuted
folk in their lands because of their animal beliefs and lifestyle. They
have been at sea for almost a year now.
They have little or no provisions left and fresh water
has run out three weeks before.
Many have died during their long voyage but as they row
to shore hope rises in the few that have
remained. They make shore and find
food a plenty. Then, after a few days on the beach
they begin to explore the newly
discovered lands. They find the Thaehelvil River and follow it north
until they come to a fork. There, on a grassy hillside
they begin to build their new homes. Thus their leader Talgor Eye'el and his
two brothers Ealgor and Bealgor along with this ragtag group of people start to
build what will later be called the Eyelian Kingdom."

-- Kanthir: "Of the Followers of Eye'el", p. 3

The Eyelian Kingdom which
formed over the course of time comprised of three clans as they called them:

Eyelia (Wolf
Clan)
The first and most important clan was led by Talgor. His followers were
already called "Eyelians" as
Talgor was the firstborn in the line of Eye'el. He chose the northern border
and lands and named them "San", which in their
native language means "United" or
"Assembled". The
clan was called the Up'rhim in the styrásh tongue ("Wolf Tribe").

As far as the historians can
determine the Wolf Clan's borders they
started at the nothern shores of Wind Bay and stretched east through
what is now called the Anaios Gap at the fork of the
Thaehelvil River where
Talgor started to build the
village called Vista.At the time of the
War of the Chosen a
grand stone fortress would be erected there named the
Vista Castle. The
Wolf Clan'slands continued east
and reached until the foothills of the now
dormant but thousands of yearsago very
active volcano named
Argor. The border extended south to the foothills of the Rimmerins Ring and headed west
until it reached the southern shores of Wind Bay.

Quia
(Bear Clan)The eastern lands were guarded by the Bear Clan. Bealgor named his
lands Quia which means in their native language
"Peaceful" or "Calm". His followers
therefore were called the "Quiantis".
The clan was called the Jael'rhim in the styrásh tongue
("Claw Tribe").

Bealgor's border began at the northeast foothills of Argor,
stretched south and encircled what we now know as the mountain ranges
of the Rimmerins Ring which the Bears called them
"Bear's Teeth". The border
continued south until it reached the northeastern plain of what is now called
Elverground. Not much is known of Quia's capitol,
only that it was called "Quianta."

Yourth
(Eagle Clan)
The southern borders and lands were guarded by the Eagle Clan. Ealgor named his
lands "Yourth" which means in their
native tongue"Young
Earth" or "Fresh
Ground".
Ealgor's followers were called "Yourths".
The clan was called the Vol'rhim in the styrásh tongue
("Eagle Tribe").
The Yourth borders started at the northeast part
of the Elverground, stretched west along the border of what we call the Zeiphyrian
Forest (which means "Living Woods"in their tongue, for they believed that the woods were
alive and therefore never claimed it as their own). The
border continued a little south until it reached the mouth of the
Thaehelvil River, then went west
until it reached the shores or the Aetryam Sea, then continued north until it
reached the southern shores of Wind Bay. Of the three brothers and their clans
little is known, but most about Ealgor. We know his lands encompassed all of
Elverground, what we know now as the Vale of the Brownies and the southern
foothills of the Rimmerns Ring. His capitol, if that is what you would call it,
since it was most likely a large hardened mud hut, was named Zash.

We know from the fragments of records of the only surviving descendants of the
Wolf Clan, that the Eyelians as a whole were extremely territorial yet friendly people. They
usually did not bother anyone crossing their lands but if their lands were
being encroached upon no matter what border the other two
brothers would come to the
other ones aid. It was probably such an encroachment that banded the clans to
finally
form the Eyelian Kingdom. What this threat was or from whom that encroachment came from has
been debated; either the Kyranians on the northern
border started a land war or another theory is that there was a bitter feud between the Clans descendants
and the Sophronians. What that feud may have been is not known
and nearly impossible to re-construct, but speculation
of the Sophronian tribe splitting around ca. 10665 and some
Sophronian women
finding acceptance within the Clans may have been the reason for this feud.

Eyelians attack the Kyranian Fortress of Sheyaur, now in the possession of of one of Cyroan Thromgolin's kin. The Eyelians succeed and destroy most of it. Farmers use the ruins as a quarry and the stones of the Sheyaur for homes and walls.

Serphelorian settlers make it as far west as the Thaehelvil River and encounter Eyelians. Both groups are trying to spread; Eyelians lay claim to the Rimmerins Ring (due to the gryph aeries there); Serphelorians claim it as their roaming-lands as they travelled through it. Both groups try to work it out, but the difference in their culture lead to a clash. Eyelians think Serphelorians rude because they are loud and brash; Serphelorians think Eyelians rude because their quiet (seen as cold) and slow behaviour(seen as obstructive), so eventually this leads to war.

The Rimmerins Ring and the western Elverground are constantly fought over. Many different solutions are tried by various different leaders of each tribe, with varying degrees of success. There are occasional cease-fires, occasionally more terrible battles, but generally constant skirmishing as both sides try to hold their lines.

This continues until around 6000 b.S. when there is a peace treaty; broken by one of the first queens in 3000 b.S. Skirmishes would then continues until the Serphelorian kindom falls in 400ish b.S. Now a.S. there is still a rivalry between their armies, though much more friendly now, esecially. since they are charged with protecting Eyelians (the tribal principle of "katmoh").

A peace treaty is negotiated with the united clans of Eyelia. The treaty allows the Serphelorians to stay united without having to wage wars, and develop more. Cha plantations started here.

The Rimmerins Ring is to be officially Eyelian territory, but nomads can wander here but not for more than half the year. An uneasy truce begins but slowly works when neither side re-initiates hostilities. There exists no real trade between the two nations though.

Skirmishes flares up again when a Serphelorian queen decides it should be officially Serphelorian territory and tries to take these lands back.

Elsreth, not wanting to be caught up in the fighting, defects the Serphelorians to become part of Eyelia. The Eyelians pledge forces to hold it in case there are reprisals. This leads to members of all clans relocating to live there, although the reprisals never come as the Serphelorians are too busy fighting amongst themselves.

It is only a matter of days that the decision is made by the human representative, the Erpheronian Engolmar the Strongwilled, of declaring war upon the elves as a result to the incidents of the Night of the Hand. The elven dispatches, who sailed for Chylikis to express their regret after a serious incident with Eyelian ships, deny that they had intentionally attacked a human delegation, but are forced to react after being attacked. However, they were not heard.

After the murder Serphelorian Jakat Kaira the succession is thrown into doubt, leading to internal wars between factions. Eyelia, with the help of Serphelorians from Elsreth persuades the northern states to join it, as well as some other western southern pieces like Brinsley; Avennoria takes over the rulership of the south by virtue of Avennorian-sympathetic male scions.

Serpheloria survives only in a few nomadic bands now confined to a much smaller area, and Islia, Klandonia and Hog, three town states near each other. These remnants all undertake to train every person in arms as a means to stay independent and matriarchal. Only Hog has found a way to thrive until the current time - the other two cities are now little more than villages with memories of a grand past.

The former Eyelian town of Quia'antá which was used already in the past for important gatherings by Santhros' father Aelric is chosen as the new Santharian capital. The town lies embedded in the center of Santharia, in the midst of the Rimmerins Ring and features multiple tribes living already in harmony together.

King Santhros begins the "Santhrization" of the Eyelian people. As a unifier, he seeks to bring the Eyelian kingdom into the Santharian fold. Unfortunately for the Eyelians, this creates a dichotomy - enjoy the riches of Santharia, or betray their beliefs? The choice soon turns to compromising their original beliefs, though dissenters still exist.

And dissent they do. Boycotting all Santharian goods and services, a small group of Yourth clan Eyelians travels to the Quallian, perhaps lured subconsciously by elves, or perhaps by the mysterious force of alsetism.

After a Brownie comes across an Eyelian with an Injèrá eagle familiar, a minor conflict breaks out. Convinced that a Brownie, too, can tame the notoriously fierce eagle, he captures it, bringing it back to the Vale. The eagle escapes, and in the process, kills several Brownies. Now assured that the entire debacle was an Eyelian ruse, the Brownies attack Kytta’erng. The miffling continues for years, though hostilities soon drop off, and become scattered, individual, rare, events.

This unfortunate brush with humans, the first for many in about 3000 years, confirms all the still-lurking fears the Brownies have about humans. Exploring outside the safe Vale all but stops, and the idea of trading with other settlements is squashed. The Brownies turn back to their spirits to try and discover why this eagle spirit allies itself with the humans, but they are not successful. The populations of both Brownies and their animals grow steadily.

The Council Tree is determined to make the new trading links official, rather than leaving them to one individual as with the dwarven trading. The Eyelians' farmed food supplies and access to beautiful cloth are two things in particular which keep the Brownies coming back. Two new, small clans are formed, the Barterers, who learn Tharian in order to speak with the humans, and the Wheelers, an offshoot of the Hammr’ers who deal with transporting the goods.

In 884 a.S. the Brownies enlist the help of the Tenthrum Clan to make a proper path through the treacherous gorge and into the Vale. This is partly to encourage the new trade with Kytta'erng, but also to make the entrance easier to defend. The path is just wide enough for one person or pack animal to pass fairly easily. Perches carved into the rock make excellent positions from which to fire down on an attacker and shelters mean that the Brownies can keep watch through any weather. The Brownies are still paying the Tenthrum for the work until 1065 a.S.

The Ylfferhim begin to send envoys from the Quallian. One of these envoys reaches Kytta’erng, where he receives a warm welcome. Upon his return to the forest, he gives a glowing recommendation of the Eyelians. Ever since, the two tribes have held a fast friendship. Symbolizing this friendship is the trading post built near the Quallian. This post is the closest non-elf made structure to the Quallian, and the only place where visitors are received officially.

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Footnotes.[1] A note on the researchers of the culture of Eyelian
people: The Eyelians are blessed and cursed by their exotic nature - it has
brought much attention (and scrutiny!) to these people. Some of the most
famous researchers of the Eyelian Tamers are:
- The noted author Capher, one of the most famous
Santharian personalities. It is said
that beyond being a strong and sturdy man who has journeyed far and wide across
Sarvonia to learn more about not only
the Eyelians, but several other tribes as well, he is the last of the
shape-shifting dragons.
- Lady Tiaa, a scholar most widely known for her studies of her Native
Aeruillin; and
- Lady Talia, a strong Shendar woman known as one of
the prime contributors to the
Santharian Compendium. [Back]